A GREEDY manager of a huge cannabis business in Middlesbrough and beyond has been ordered to pay the state almost half a million pounds.

In one of Teesside’s largest ever Proceeds of Crime cases, Leyakt Sajawal made more than £2m from crime, Teesside Crown Court ruled.

He was released from prison this week, only to find himself back in court owing hundreds of thousands of pounds from his ill-gotten gains.

Due to some faulty arithmetic, the 37-year-old saw his total proceeds of crime bill suddenly rise by more than £100,000 in one day.

Judge Peter Armstrong said Sajawal’s crimes were “motivated by sheer greed”. He said in his judgment: “The defendant was clearly intent on living an ostentatious lifestyle with expensive cars, watches and jewellery.”

A PC once heard Sajawal boast of his Mercedes outside a court: “It cost 80 grand, officer. And they say crime doesn’t pay. Only kidding.”

Sajawal employed a team of Chinese illegal immigrants to tend his crop in locations including the former Middlesbrough probation offices on Longlands Road, with other farms in Yorkshire.

He lived the high life through the illicit business, benefiting in the sum of £2,137,760 from high level cannabis farming across the North.

The BMW driver’s criminal property included a £10,000 deposit for a Mercedes, a diamond and sapphire Rolex watch, cherished number plates, jewellery, property equity and £100,000 in “hidden assets”.

A taxi driver and former director of now-defunct car hire, mobile phone and road accident claims businesses, Sajawal was jailed for four and a half years in 2009.

This week he was ordered to pay the state £468,685 - the amount he currently has available, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He was given six months to pay at Teesside Crown Court, otherwise he will have to serve a four-year prison sentence. The authorities can try to claw back more of the remaining £1.6m if they later learn Sajawal has gained more money.

The case is the result of a long money laundering investigation led by the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (NE RART) with officers from Cleveland and South and West Yorkshire police forces.

Cannabis farms were discovered in Middlesbrough and Yorkshire, all linked to drugs gang linchpin Sajawal. The estimated value of the massive Middlesbrough crop alone was £1m, with crops in Sheffield believed to be around £500,000, to a total value of more than £1.7m.

He spent money on cannabis growing equipment, rent and rates, cash for BMW and Mercedes cars, property in Pakistan and a diamond ring. Sajawal claimed he had legitimate income and expenditure from his businesses and rented property.

The judge found Sajawal earned more than £500,000 legitimately from taxi driving, businesses, gifts and savings, but used some of his firms as a front for crime. He said Sajawal’s evidence was untruthful, incredible and inconsistent, and his witnesses tried to dilute his interests.

The judge initially ordered Sajawal, of St Lawrence Glebe, Tinsley, Sheffield, to pay £341,568 - but was later told he’d got his sums wrong. He corrected the order to make Sajawal pay £468,685, and said he was embarrassed at his arithmetic error.

He added: “I apologise to the defendant because he’s going to have to find a far greater sum than he was told.”

Speaking for the NE RART afterwards, Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Atkinson said: “Sajawal played a key role in many criminal enterprises across the North-east region and was even described in court as the regional manager. He lived a lavish lifestyle, only possible due to the extent of his involvement in cannabis production.

“Our detailed investigation has made sure that not only was Sajawal brought to justice but that his criminal assets were removed.”